ANN ARBOR, Mich. -- University of Michigan track and field head coaches James Henry and Jerry Clayton jointly announced the hiring of Amanda Decker Skowronek as the director of operations for both programs on Friday, Aug. 8. Skowronek brings more than 15 years of track and field experience to the Wolverine staff after working in various roles as a manager, sports information director, development staffer, official and meet manager throughout her career.

In the newly created director of operations position for the men's and women's cross country and track and field programs, Skowronek will assist with several aspect of the program, including meet planning and management, team travel, inventory, ordering and distribution of team equipment and apparel, coordination of special events and year-round community service projects for the program.

Skowronek has been a USATF associate level certified track and field official since 2004, as well as a MHSAA certified official since April 2013. She has worked more than four dozen high school and collegiate meets in the past two years, including meets at Michigan, Eastern Michigan and Bowling Green, as well as MSHAA State Championship meets, Mid-American Conference Championships and NCAA Great Lakes Regional Cross Country Championships. Beginning in April 2014, she also began working with A2 Race Management, providing track and field and road race timing and results to host institutions.

In addition to her experience as a track and field official and meet manager, Skowronek has spent the past four years working in different capacities with the Eastern Michigan University Foundation. Most recently she served as the communications and graphic design manager for the Foundation, starting in January 2013. In that role she was responsible for driving the EMU Foundation's brand to ensure consistent visual representation and oversaw all creative materials for the organization. From August 2011-April 2013, she worked as a development and design associate for EMU's Foundation, where she designed all print materials for the Foundation and assisted with fundraising initiatives. Skowronek got her start with the Foundation as a development associate in July 2010.

Prior to joining the staff at EMU's Foundation, she was a sports writer for the Daily Telegram (Adrian, Mich.), covering high school and collegiate sports.

Skowronek got her start at Eastern Michigan as a graduate student from 2007-09, where she earned her master's degree in sport management. During that time, she also served as a graduate assistant sports information director, where she was the primary media contact for eight of the Eagles' 21 sports, including track and field.

Skowronek graduated with a bachelor's degree in sport management with an emphasis in sport communication from Bowling Green State University in 2007. Throughout her four years at BGSU, she served as a team manager for the men's and women's cross country and women's track and field teams, assisting with all day-to-day activities of the programs.